Paragraph 2 reads: "Mr Holmes, a divorcee, who lived alone, had a flat in the city and had suffered with his health because of the stress of work, the inquest in Peterborough heard, and had been on medication for several months to treat depression."

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/latest-east-anglia-news/Headteacher-killed-himself-before-inspection.3572576.jp

Headteacher killed himself before inspection

A Peterborough head teacher killed himself on the eve of an Ofsted inspection, a coroner has ruled.
Jed Holmes, 53, was found dead at his home in July this year, 24 hours before Government inspectors were due at his primary school.

Mr Holmes, a divorcee, who lived alone, had a flat in the city and had suffered with his health because of the stress of work, the inquest in Peterborough heard, and had been on medication for several months to treat depression.

He was found dead o
n the morning of July 11 of carbon monoxide poisoning. Police had to knock down his door, and found the remnants of a barbecue fire in the corner of the living room.

Recording a verdict that Mr Holmes had killed himself, Peterborough coroner, Gordon Ryall, said: "He knew that an Ofsted inspection was imminent. There has been evidence from those working with him that he was concerned about that, not that it would seem to be that he needed to be concerned about the performance of the school.

"We can't exclude the proximity of the Ofsted inspection at the date of his death.

"It was that impending inspection that triggered off the action he decided to take.

"There was no need for that. He would have coped quite comfortably with that. It was just perhaps one thing too much for him to deal with at the time."

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Last Updated: 10 December 2007 7:54 PM